Meeting Kazama
Watching Miyuki chat with Fumiya and Ayako, Tatsuya suddenly eyed the door. Knock timed perfectly. Miyuki replied; "Excuse me," from the "maid"—face flushed (Tatsuya's fault, unmentioned).
She sidestepped; suited man entered. Miyuki gasped softly. Siblings unfamiliar; she knew him somewhat.
"Long time, Tatsuya. Though last week."
"Major, Aunt summoned you?"
No quip at contradiction; Tatsuya confirmed with Kazama Genshin.
"Yes. Didn't hear you'd attend."
"Aunt's prank. She's like that."
Tatsuya answered for guilty Miyuki, wry smile.
"Then, Tatsuya-nii-sama, we'll go."
"Excuse us."
Kuroba siblings exited, wary of Kazama. Tatsuya wry-smiled again.
"I'm fine with you here."
Tatsuya nodded. Beside, Miyuki recalled first meeting Kazama.
Cruising aborted; I lay in bed. Body rested, mind not—brother's magic.
CAD-less, he altered structure info directly: decomposition. Top-difficulty, effortless for him.
(Don't understand... know nothing... Family, siblings—yet I knew zilch. Didn't even know that till today.)
Knock yanked thoughts back.
'Sorry to disturb rest. Defense Force wants talk...'
"Me?"
Sakurai-san's hesitant voice; I opened, asked simultaneously. Unimaginable what they'd want.
'Yes... I said Tatsuya-kun and I would answer...'
"Got it. Living room?"
Her apologetic face—not her fault. I reassured, said I'd change and come.
Downstairs, inquisitor introduced: Captain Kazama Genshin, straight to business.
"...Sub spotted by chance?"
"Vice-captain did. Ask him details."
"Notice ship-identifying features?"
"Submerged. Amateur impossible. Even surfaced, clueless on sub traits."
Q&A between captain and Sakurai-san. Mother delegated fully; I was too rattled to interject.
"Torpedo fired? Attack cause ideas?"
"None!"
Sakurai-san irritated—displeased with military from start; this "you provoked it" vibe irked me too.
"--You notice anything?"
Glared-at captain turned to brother. Just atmosphere-softener, probably.
"Witness elimination: abduction attempt."
"Hou, abduction?"
"Torpedo was bubbling type."
"Hou..."
Bubbling...? Foam torpedo—creates bubbles?
"Tatsuya-kun, what's that?"
Head tilted; Sakurai-san asked for me. Still mad, skipped captain.
"Warhead chemical produces massive long-lasting foam. Screws useless in foam; high-center sailboats capsize easily. Immobilize, fake accident, capture crew."
"Why think so?"
"Comms jammed. Essential for accident disguise."
"Weapon ID basis weak."
"Not solely."
"More?"
"Yes."
"What?"
Captain eyed interested. Brother's reply defied expectations.
"Decline to answer."
"..."
"Need basis?"
"...No."
Outmaneuvered—plus Mother's implicit "no more bother"—captain bowed, left. Seeing off outside: yesterday's thug soldiers.
"Ah... Shibata Tatsuya. You floored Joe. Hiwagi Private!"
"Sir!"
"Subordinate rude."
"Hiwagi Joseph Private! Deep apologies for yesterday!"
"Accepted."
I was endangered... but they targeted brother.
"Shibata Tatsuya. I instruct airborne mages at Onna Base. Visit when free. You'll find interesting."
Kazama left without reply wait, car gone. Sakurai-san hugged brother gratefully.
"As expected, Tatsuya-kun. Shutting down annoying military."
"Nothing much."
"No, I couldn't."
He was impressive—I couldn't either—but her hug fogged my chest. Why? Knowing deeper thought worsened it, I avoided.
Hit 270+ episodes without noticing...
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